EVE: The Empyrean Age: The Empyrean Age (EVE Series)

all the latest theories and science rolled up in a fantastic scifi yarn. a must read...even if its based on a game.

Book has many twists and turns that are unexpected and while it follows the EVE universe and several things in it may be confusing, the basic storyline is easy enough to pick up on and is interesting enough to hold the attention of those who have never heard of the game (my girlfriend couldn't put it down). A must read for any fan of the game and a great sci-fi novel for those who aren't.

I played EvE Online for almost two years before having to discontinue due to real-life concerns and some disheartening player actions, but even though I don't actively play the game, I am still intrigued by the universe it presents and the attention to detail which its developers have shown in creating and maintaining it, which has contributed to its success and longevity. I don't think there's a more well-thought out epic space opera universe out there, except maybe the Dune series, and when I found this book in paperback, I was delighted to revisit the world beyond the collapsed wormhole known as the EvE gate once more. Reading about the epic events brought back a lot of memories, and as tribute to how well-written it is, I had a few visceral reactions to many of the events, since they took place in sectors and systems I had spent many hours playing in: An assault on Gallente-occupied Caldari Prime had me thinking for a minute "Whoa, I delivered a large shipment of oyxgen there!" while the blockade of the stargates in another system had me momentarily sweating bullets, since a player-corp I ran with rented hangar space in one of the stations there. Having at least a cursory knowledge of the game's universe helps when you're reading this book, but the author, himself a long-time player, has included enough background on the four nations -- Caldari, Amarr, Minmatar and Gallente -- and their outlooks to keep a newcomer to the EvE-verse from getting completely lost. The opening chapters and the mystery surrounding an amnesiac clone awakening only to find himself attacked by assassins draws you in, wondering who this man is and why his enemies want him dead... and what secrets are hidden even to himself. There are a few places where the four main storylines get a little confusing, and I think a list of the characters would help keep one keep all the names and faces matched up, but in all, this is an awesome read for both fans of the game and fans of space opera at its finest.

a friend recommended this book to me an someone that plays this I would have to say that I really don't know which I like better this book or the game. If you like shows like Firefly, Star Trek, Riddick Chronically, or Star Wars I think you will love this. This is a epic tale of of not just one man but 4 races that are on the verge of war. If you Play EVE and you know the game and the ship you will love this Book. Thanks my Name in game is Jeffery Lebowskie

I greatly enjoyed the read and would recommend the book to any Sci-Fi fan, regardless of whether they play EVE or not. As an EVE capsuleer, I feel like the book helped enrich the backstory and brought to life many areas that I have found myself roaming through. Overall, the plot and characters are engaging. There are perhaps too many concurrent plot lines, and while the complex plot provides excitement, the downside is that character development is severely constrained by the lack of focus. The book succeeds in providing the story that leads to the current situation with the Factional Warfare system in game. I also enjoyed that the characters have turned up in later EVE chronicles to further develop the story. Perhaps it is a consequence of being part of a living, breathing universe, but the hardest part about the novel is that it leaves you hanging at the end. I am still not sure what happens on Caldari Prime, and I have been playing the game for months since the novel came out. We have also been given very little additional insight into the craziness within the Amarr Empress, or what becomes of the racist and bloodthirsty leader of the Caldari. While the recent freeing of slaves may have been forshadowed by the experiences of the Empress' right hand man in the book, we are left on our own to figure out how the story ends. I am personally counting on Mr. Gonzales to publish a sequel soon to explore these hanging threads. I hope he can slow down enough to really develop his characters while retaining the gripping quality he created in The Empyrean Age. Overall, a good read for any Sci-Fi fan; a great read for those interested in jumping into the EVE world, and a must read for current players!